Watch Our Words

 

As I walked around the construction site at my church, I came upon this interesting scene. Just outside one of the doors, someone had spilled a good amount of paint from its five gallon bucket. The loose paint had not spread too far in the extreme heat. It appears to have dried quickly into a thick pad that glued the bucket to the sidewalk.

I wondered why whoever spilled the paint had not bothered to try to clean it up. Then I realized the futility of trying to get that paint back into the bucket. It was out there and out there it would be. The one who spilled it just walked away, perhaps waiting until it was dry to try to clean the sidewalk.

I was reminded of the power of our words and how, once they are out there, they are so hard to take back. The Bible contains a lot of words about words.

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.” “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”

It is much easier to guard our words than to gather them back once spoken. Like the paint, words seldom find their way completely back into the bucket. In a world full of division and animosity, let us speak words of kindness and patience. Let us speak words of truth in grace. May we be strong enough to know when not to speak at all. May the words we speak this day add beauty and joy to the world. May our words be a way God heals and guides and loves those around us. Such words never need be taken back.

Peace.